Skimmer not Working
After replacing the booster pump I noticed the skimmer wasn't working.
I hadn't noticed this earlier as my focus had been on the Polaris 280 and the new PB4SQ.
Turns out it was just a filthy Pentair filter cartridge but I learned a lot along the way.
Skimmer not Skimming - 02/2020
The hose for the Polaris 280 connects on the left. The Polaris works fine. The sweep may have been working but nothing was fine!
I thought the booster pump might be diverting the water but even with the booster pump off nothing appears to be was coming out of the hole on the right.
Should water be coming out the hole on the right, returning from the filter? Yes. Yes it should.
(a week later I discovered another return I somehow hadn't noticed)
If I understand correctly, the skimmer is where the filter pump pulls the water from the pool and where one would connect a vacuum hose should one want to vacuum the pool.
Is this correct? Yes, this is correct.
And of course where leaves and other debris are prevented from making their way to the pump.
Clearly no suction.
I'd expect to feel some suction at this hole while the pump is running but I don't.
If there's a clog between the skimmer and pump, how is the Polaris being powered?
Since the clog was the filthy filter I'm still a bit confused.
The booster pump must have been running dry and pushing air until it hit the hose at the pool wall.
Or it was simply pulling water from the return.
The filter, pumps and electrical.
This is the pump I replaced with a PB4SQ.
Pentair Clean & Clear
Could this indicate a clogged line between the skimmer and the pump or the pump and the filter? (or just a bade gauge?) Yes. Or a clogged impeller.
I just checked with the pump off and it reads the exact same pressure. That can't be good. It appears to be broken.
Update: Looks like the pool guy wasn't cleaning the filter after all (skip to 35s)
Am I correct in thinking water traveling via the yellow arrow ends up powering the Polaris sweep and water flowing via the green arrow should return out the
other hole in the pool wall? Yes, that's correct.
I seem to recall in the past there being a lot of action in the pump basket when the pump is running. Now it's just a single air bubble, just sitting there. (fixed after cleaning the filter)